unbranching

8.4

Not splitting into separate stems or parts

adjective
/ʌnˈbrænʧɪŋ/

: sin ramas

The cactus has a tall, unbranching stem that stores water.

Examples

She marveled at the plant's unbranching structure, which stood in contrast to the surrounding bushes.
The unbranching stem of the plant grew straight up.
An unbranching river flows straight across the plain without dividing.
Look at how unbranching the tree is!
The cactus has a tall, unbranching stem that stores water.
An unbranching river flows straight across the plain without dividing.
The unbranching stem of the plant grew straight up.

Synonyms

unbranched

vsunbranching

1 6.3

Having one main stem and no side growth

is about not dividing into separate stems or limbs

branchless

vsunbranching

1 4.9

A tree or plant with no branches

is the broader descriptive term for lacking stem divisions

unsubdivided

vsunbranching

Specialized

8.2

A leaf with one whole surface and no separate parts

is about whole forms that do not split into stems or limbs

How Branched

branched

2 3.5

unbranching

8.4

Surface Forms

unbranching positive

Morphology

unbranching = branching (transparent) = un + branch + ing

Formed by adding the productive negative prefix 'un-' to 'branching', yielding a straightforward meaning 'not branching'.

Etymology

Unbranching is formed from un- meaning 'not' and branch meaning 'a limb or part that grows out from the main stem of a tree or plant'. So, something unbranching does not divide into side stems or limbs and stays single and straight.